Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father

Dear Zachary tells the tragic story of Andrew Bagby, a young doctor murdered by his ex-girlfriend, Shirley Turner. Initially conceived as a tribute to Andrew for his unborn son, Zachary, the film takes an unexpected turn as events unfold. Filmmaker Kurt Kuenne, Andrew’s childhood friend, sets out to create a memorial by interviewing Andrew’s family, friends and colleagues across the United States and the United Kingdom. The project aims to introduce Zachary to the father he would never know, capturing Andrew’s life through home videos, photographs and heartfelt testimonials.

After fleeing to Canada following the murder, Turner announces her pregnancy with Andrew’s child. Andrew’s parents, David and Kathleen Bagby, move to Newfoundland to fight for custody of their grandson while awaiting Turner’s extradition to the United States. Turner is initially released on bail and granted custody of Zachary, leading to a tense and emotionally fraught custody arrangement with the grandparents.

The documentary takes a devastating turn when Turner, facing re-arrest, commits murder-suicide, taking the life of 13-month-old Zachary along with her own. In the aftermath of the tragedy, the film follows David and Kathleen Bagby’s efforts to reform Canadian bail laws. Their campaign, born of grief and frustration, seeks to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The documentary concludes with reflections from Andrew’s loved ones on the impact of both father and son, as well as the remarkable resilience of David and Kathleen Bagby.